Quote:
Originally Posted by gwhite
As I remember (it was a long time ago) the value was in knowing a great deal about rats.  |
I've got four psychologists in my family, and I'd say there's an initial interest in self-diagnosis which is
rapidly discouraged by teachers.
Fascination with deciphering the intricacies of specific problems and pathologies seems to be the reason my rels persevered in that field. They also feel good about helping patients who are haunted by intangible difficulties.
One family member in particular is outraged by the politicization of mental illness, and takes the same view of it that others do of the medieval diagnoses of pathologies as forms of demonic possession.
Determining and advocating the correct treatment of harmless patients, and of those who are truly dangerous, seems to have been his main motivation for earning his Doctorate.